Ball-bearing rowlock.



No. 692,845. Pat'ent'd Feb. Il, |902.

T. H. GARRETT, 1R. BALL BEARING RDWLOCK.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

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N E V. m WM 0 Mmm' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. -GARRETT3 JR., OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

BALL-BEARING RowLocK.

sPEc'rFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,845, datedFebruary 1 1, 1902.

Application filed November l1, 1901. Serial No.8L840. (No model.) y

To @ZZ whom t may concern; f

Beit known that LTHOMAS H. GARRETT,J r.,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county ofCayuga and State'of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulBall-Bearing Rowlock, of which the following is a specification. Theprincipal object ofthe prese-nt invention is to provide a silent,attractive, antifriction, reliable, and efficient rowlock which shall beof simple construction.

To these and other ends hereinafter set forth the invention comprisesthe improve-v ments to be presently described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following description,taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which-Figure l is a perspective View illustrating a rowlock embodying featuresof my invention with the fork removed. Fig. 2 is a view drawn to anenlarged scale and illustratingv the same principally in centralsection; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a por# tion of an oar,together with a f ork which is applicable for use in connection with myinvention.

In the drawings, l is a sleeve supported byv ball-bearings and adaptedto receive the fork 2. The fork 2 and the sleeve are arranged to fittogether, so as to constitute when in use, in effect, one piece. Ofcourse the fork can be removed from the sleeve, as is frequentlydesirable in use. To accomplish this result, the sleeve is madetapering, so that the fork fits it detachably, yet lwhen inserted inplace there is sufcientfriction between the parts to cause the sleeve toturn with the fork 2. The sleeve 1 itself is supported uponballbearings. For this purpose use is made of Suitable ball-races 3 and4, which are shown as mounted in a socket 5 and secured to a suitabletubular piece or part 6, which is held by a set-screw '7 againstrotation in the socket 5. Use is also made of a ball-race 8, fittedso asto turn with the sleeve l, and of a ballrace 9,-similarly fitted to thesleeve. The

flaring upper end of the sleeve l serves to hold the ball-race 8, andthe ball-race 9 is held by thefpair of nuts lO and ll,of which the nut11 serves as a jam-nut. In the drawings the socket 5, as shown, is` lprovided with a bracket l2, by means ot' which it can be secured to thegunwale, although it is obvious that the vsocket may be otherwise fittedfor attachment orsecured to the boat or to an outrigger, if desired.Similarly the fork 2 is shown as connected with the portion 13 of theoar, although it is obvious that the oar may simply rest in or beotherwise adapted to the fork. r

The mode of operation of the described rowlock may be described asfollows: In use `tho fork 2 is inserted in the sleeve l, which it tsquite tightly, so that when the oar is moved backward and forward thefork and the sleeve turn as one piece. kThe parts'S and 9 also turn withthe sleeve and fork, and as they turn they ride on the balls lll, whichin turn bear upon the ball-races 3 and 4, which are fixed in the socket,which in its turn is secured to the boat. The resultof this is thattheoar Vturns very lightly and easily and with practically no noise,which latter quality is very desirable in hunting and the like.` Clearlythe fork 2 may be easily removed from the sleeve when not in use bysimply withdrawingit.'

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates that modifications rnay be made in details without departingfrom the spirit thereof. Hence I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinabove set forth, andillustrated ings; but,

Having thus described the nature and objects of the invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A rowlock comprising a movable sleeve, a fixed support, ball-racesconnected with the sleeve and with the support, balls interposed betweensaid races, and a fork having ashank fitted to-the sleeve so as to turntherewith, substantially as described. f

2. In a rowlock, the combination of a tapered flaring sleeve, a socket,ball-races `secured to the socket, a ball-race fittedto the flaringupper end of the sleeve, a ball-race fitted to the lower end of thesleeve,.nu'ts for in the accompanying drawsecuring the last mentionedballrace, and balls between said races, substantially as described.

3. In a rowlock, a socket, a support for the socket, a tubular piecemounted in the socket and provided with ball-races, a tapered flaringsleeve mounted through said tubular piece, a ball-race tted to theflaring upper end of the sleeve, a ball-race fitted to the lower end ofthe sleeve, nuts for holding the last-mentioned ball-race, and ballsinterposed between said races, substantially as described.

4. A rowlock comprising a tubular ineinber adapted for attachment to aboat and provided with upper and lower ball-races, a

sleeve mounted through said tubular member -a shank fitted to saidsleeve so as to turn therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS H. GARRETT, JR.

In presence of JAMES F. RICH, GEO. B. GARRETT.

